Dekoning Blanks London
London, Ontario – Daniel Dekoning and the Erie Otters put on a clinic in the final two periods Friday night as they shut out the London Knights 4-0 in the first of back-to-back exhibition games this weekend.
Dekoning recorded his first shutout with the Otters, stopping all 18 shots he faced at the Budweiser Gardens. The Otters outshot the Knights 34-10 over the final two periods of the game in the effort.
The first period was bogged down with penalties as both teams filled the box at a consistent rate. Erie was able to capitalize during even strength play when Joel Wigle banged home a rebound in front of London net minder Tyler Parsons. Quentin Maksimovich and Mason Marchment recorded assists on the only goal of the period.
Erie turned things up in the second period recording the first ten shots of the period. It was Nick Betz, continuing his preseason tear, adding to the Otters lead. Betz took a pass from Cory Genovese and sprung down the right wing wall, taking the puck coast-to-coast and wiring a shot over the glove hand of Michael Giugovaz, who came in midway through the game for Parsons. The Otters held the Knights to just two shots on goal in the second frame while putting up 16 of their own.
The Otters continued to roll in the third period getting goals from Patrick Fellows and Taylor Raddysh to extend the lead to 4-0. Dekoning made another eight stops in the final period to secure his first shutout.
The Erie Otters will continue their final preseason weekend Saturday night with the second game of the back-to-back nights with London. Faceoff is set for 7 p.m. at the William Allman Memorial Arena in Stratford, Ontario.
